Switch



v T. A.` wETzEL `2,096,502

SWITCH 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed lay 17, 1934 INVENTOR. C44-.M

BY v

'6% Mama, M),

zhlmal 7 I ATTORNEY;

T. A. WETZEL Oct. 19, 1937.

SWITCH Filed May 17, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY; L

Patented Oct. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWITCH Application May17, 1934, Serial No. 726,029

15 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical switches especially designed and adapted to be controlled and operated by thermostatic, hydroscopic or other means sensitive to relative changes in the working 'conditions to which said means is sub- -jected.

The usual form of device for this purpose in which a switch member is controlled by operating means sensitive to such relative changes is defective in that the action is slow, hesitating and wavering. The result is excessive sparking at contact points. 'I'he use of magnets, has, to some extent, eil'ected a dampening or lessening of this sparking but in order to keep the `switch l5 controllable within minute degrees of relative change it has been necessary to break or disturb the magnetic circuit or ileld prior to the breaking of the electrical circuit or contact. 'Ihe breaklng or disturbing of the magnetic circuit or ileld will produce a blow-out effect on an arc and by breaking it prior to the breaking oi the electrical circuit an important function of the magnetic eld is lost.

The principal object of this invention is, by

special arrangement of magnetic field, a plurality of armatures and contact members, to cause a break or disturbance in the magnetic field or circuit in such a manner as to cause a more effective blow-out of the arc at the contact points without decreasing the responsive Sensitiveness oi the device, and to accomplish a sharp instantaneous separation oi the contact members when the switch is caused to open.

Another object of this invention is to increase I the sensitivity of the switch in its response to the operating means. By dividing the flux linkage` from a magnet between a plurality of armatures less force will be required by the operating means to move a single one ofv said armatures and in this invention only one of the armatures is motivated by the operating means during the initial overcoming of the magnetic iniiuence.

A furtherobject is to secure a positive contact between contact members which will not diminish before the instant of contact break.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features offthe-construction, arrangement and combination of parts, which will be h'ereinafter more iully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. forming a part of this specification, and in which;

Figure 1 is a view of the devicein side elevation with Darts shown in section to better illustrate the operation thereof;

(Cl. 20o- 138) Figure 2 is afront view of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in elevation of a sylphon bellows type switch operator;

Figures 4, 6, 9, 1`3, 14, and 16 are views of sep- 5 arate modiiications of the device in side elevation with parts shown in section to better illustrate the operation thereof;

Figures 5, 7, l0, 12, 15, and 17 are front views of the respective modications of Figures 4, 6, 9, 13, 10 14, and 16;

Figures 8 and 11 are views in side elevation of a further modiiication of the device, parts being shown in section to better illustrate the operation thereof; and 15 Figure 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating the main principles oi' the functional operation oi the device in general.

Generally, in the accompanying drawings, numeral I indicatesa magnet which is a source of magnetic fleld of varied intensity.' Armatures 4 and 5 are movable in the magnetic ileld relative to the magnet or center of intensity of the magnetic eld. Contact members 2 and 3 are movable relative to each other tc make and break contact. Preferably, the contact members 2 and 3 are so related to the magnet l or magnetic field that the contact izreak occurs in the center of intensity of the magnetic field. -The armature 5 by various means later described is adapted to cause said contact members to make and break contact. 'Ihe relative movement, i. e., the increase or decrease of distance, between armature 4 and the magnet i or center of intensity of the magnetic iield is varied by an operating means 6. The operating means 6 is responsive to relativo changes in the working conditions to which it is subjected. By various means later pointed cui the armature 5 eiects and maintains a brasa 5^- tween the contact members 2 and 3 only after a predetermined distance or gap is established between armature I and the magnet I or center if intensity of the magnetic field. Various ima is may be used to prevent actual physical Contact between the armature I and the magnet i. It is preferable but not essential that armadura 5 be also prevented from physically contacting the magnet l. Such physical contact is detrimental to the sensitiveness oi the device. With such a relationship as described the magnetic attraction is utilized ilrst to cause a sharp and quick contact between contact members. Second, `to maintain a positive and steady contact between them until such a time as an instantaneous and complete break is accomplished. This is clear for the fol- 5,.)

lowing reasons. The magnet attraction increases by increments each successively increasing as the operating means 6 by reason of a decrease of equal increments allows the gap between armature 4 and the magnet I to decrease. Before amature 5 causes the contact members 2 and 3 to make contact a critical distance between armature 4 and the magnet I is reached. This is the critical point at which the magnetic force overcomes the operating force. Immediately the remaining gap between armature 4 and magnet I is taken up (except no physical contact is permitted) and armature 5 causes contact tobe established between contact members 2 and 3. The magnetic attraction operates on armature 5 to cause and maintain such contact between con- `tact members 2 and 3. Reversing the operating force it will finally build up till it equals the magnetic attraction. It tends then to increase the gap between armature 4 and the magnet I, which in turn starts to decrease the magnetic attraction in increments themselves successively decreasing, Thus, after the critical point or gap is reached the operating force by reason energy needed to reach the critical point immediately increases the gap between armature 4 and magnet I to the allowable maximum of the operating force 6. Not until after the critical point has been passed and the armature 4 and magnet I are rapidly separating is the armature 5 affected so as tocause an instantaneous break between the contact members 2 and 3. This rapid relative movement between armature 4 and magnet l is by various mechanical means transmitted to armature 5 so that in actual effect armature 5 receives a blow which instantaneously overcomes or satises the magnetic attraction on armature 5 and causes it to instantaneously and completely break contact between the members 2 and 3. Wavering and vacillating occurring relatively between the armature 4 and the magnet I at critical points cannot affect the Contact between members Z and 3. Further,.with the contacts 2 and 3 positioned in the center of intensity of the magnetic iield, the magnetic disturbance' caused by the movement of the armatures 4 and 5 and especially the latter which in the preferred modiiications of the device breaks or disturbs the field at the instant oi contact break, causes a blow-out effect on any arc existing between the contact members 2 and 3 as they break contact.

The following descriptions of the various modifications are to be considered in view of the previous general description.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the magnet I is shown as a permanent magnet Iof horse-shoe form and the contact member 2 is mounted between the poles of thermagnet and is preferably adjustable relative thereto. The armatures 4 and 5 move toward and from the .magnet I or center of intensity of the magnetic field. The inner face of the armature 4 is provided with a circular depression 1. An opening 8 through the face of the armature 4 is loc-ated centrally of the depression 1. The 'armature 5 is cylindrical in form and has a laterally projecting its inner end. The cylindrical body of the armature 5 extends through the opening 8 in the armature 4, the flange 9 being seatable within the depression 1. The contact member 3 is mounted on the inner end of the armature 5. For this reason the armature 5 may be termed a contactor armature. The fact that the contact member 3 and armature 5 are formed as an integral unit or the fact that contactor member 3 conof the compressed flange 9 at aoearso'z stitutes an armature provides the means whereby the making and breaking of contact is directly influenced by the movement of armature 5. The outer end of the armature 5 projects beyond the outer f-ace of the armature 4 and a contactor guide II) is secured to this end and to the outer face of the armature 4. The guide I0 provides an electrical connection for the contactor 5 and also holds the contactor 5 in slidable or floatable alinement within the opening 8. The guide I0 and the ange 9 form stops or abutments constituting positive limits for the relative movement between the contactor 5 and the armature 4 thus constituting a lost motion connection between them. Preferably the guide I0 normally urges the contactor 5 so that the ange 9 abuts against the depression 1. It is understood, however, that any standard form of electrical connection may be substituted for the guide I0, the contactor 5 then being only slidably suspended by the opening 8. The armature 4 is pivoted at II and has an extension I2 upon which the operating means 6 is applied. The pivotal connection II constrainsthemovement of the armature 5 so that it may indirectly cause the contactor 5 to move in substantial alinement with the contact member 2 and thereby insure that the cont-act members 2 and 3 will properly seat upon making contact. The operating means 6 is shown in the form of a helix wound type of temperature responsivel element. It is adjustable to be effective on the armature 4 at a predetermined degree 'of temperature. A sylphon bellows (see Figure 3) of the type responsive either to relative temperature or pressure change may be substituted in place of the helix wound element and operate in the same manner. The armatures 4 and 5 are predesigned so that the lost motion connection between them is greater than the critical gap or point (see general description). The adjustment of the contact member 2 provides a stop preventing physical contact between the armatures and the magnet and also determines the maximum magnet attraction on the armature 4;

In Figures 4 and 5 the magnet I is pivoted and is movable toward and away from the armature 4 under influence of the operating means 6. 'The contact member 2 is located between the poles of the magnet I and moves therewith. The face of the armature 4 has an opening I2 therethrough. The armature 5 is constrained to move in the opening I2 by a guide I3 and its movement relative to the armature 4 is limited by a projecting ange I4 cooperable with the edges of the opening I2 and an adjusting screw I5 abutting against one end ofthe armature 5. The contact member 3 is carried by the other end of the armature 5 and the two form an integral unit. By substituting any exible electrical connection for the guide 'I3 and allowing the contactor 5 to be slidably held in the opening I2 the same operation results. The screw I5 acting through the armature 5 and contact member 3 prevents physical contact between the magnet I and armature 4.

In Figures 6 and '1 there are two spaced magnets I and two contact members 2. The contactor 5 is provided with two spaced contact members 3 electrically connected in series. In

alinement with each of these contact members 3 rmember I9 is made of brass ofthe armature 4. The strap I8 and pin I1 create abutments for limiting the relative motion between the contactor 5 and the armature 4. With this arrangement a double break in the circuit occurs and it is possible to do away with a pigtail connection for the contactor 5. The contactor 5 is self-alining with respect to the contact members 2 upon striking against them. Thisconstruction provides maximum magnetic flux in the proximity of each pair. of contacts.

In Figure 8 a member I9 is suitably pivoted as at II to move toward and from the armature 4 under control of the operating means 6. The

or other non-magnetic conductive material. I'he magnet I is carried on the-inner face of the member I9 in such a position as to be operatively related to the armature 4. The contact member 3 is adjustably carried by the armature 4. The contact member 2 in this modification is made of non-magnetic conductive material and is slidably mounted in an opening 20 in the member I3. The opening 20 is located centrally of the poles of the magnet I. A lateral flange 2| on the contact member 2 limits its outward movement with respect to the member I9 or magnet I. The armature 5 Vis carried on the outer end of the contact member 2, and'acts as an abutment to limit the inward movement of the contact member 2 with respect to the member I9 and magnet I. In operation the contact member 3 is adjusted so that the gap between the magnet I and the armature 4 is less (in the closed or contact position) than the gap between the magnet I and the armature 5. 'I'he magnetic attraction urging magnet I toward armature 4 is greater than the magnet attraction urging magnet I toward armature 5 and the Contact members 2 and 3 are urged into contact. The operating means 6 has to build up pressure to overcome the greater magnetic attraction and as soon as this is accomplished the magnet moves away from armature 4 toward armature 5. A critical point or balance point between the two opposed magnetic forces is reached after that point the magnetic attraction urging the magnet toward armature 5 rapidly increases while its opposing magnetic attraction rapidly decreases. The magnet I and member and deliver a blow through armature 5 to contact member 2 causing instantaneous break". The magnet I and member I9 by reason oi' the release of the compressed force in the operating `means 6 cause the break to be maintained till the operating means 6 is oppositely affected by relative cnanges in the working conditions to which subjected. The contact member 3 by its adjustments prevents physical contact between magnet I and armature 4. Armature 5 in the open position oi the switch provides a keeper for the magnet and insures its permanency.

In Figures 9 and 10 another method of mounting a contactor or armature, having two contact members 3, is indicated. The amature 4 has a projection 22 forming anabutment or stop positi'oned on its outer face and in alinement with an opening 23 therein. 'I'he contactor 5 is floatably suspended in the opening 23 by a contact guide 24, the contactor 5 and the guide 24 being connected by a stud 25. One portion of of the opening 23 is bent forward to provide an abutment 26 for the guide 24. The stud 25 abuts against the projection .22 lin one direction oi' the relative movement between thecontactor 5 and armature 4 and iz: the other direction the guide armatures 5 associated I9 gain momentum the edge pended from the same pivot 28 as the armature 4.I

A weight 29 is positioned on an extended ange 29 on the member 21 so as to urge the member 21 toward the contact member 2. The contactor element or member 21 carries an adjustable stud 30 which provides an abutment to regulate the amount of lost motion slack between the contacvtor element 21 and the armature 4. The adjustment of stud 30 regulates the minimum gap between armature 4 and the magnet I. With this arrangement, the contactor element 21 is under the control of the armature 4 and gravity. The contact between members 2 and 3 is maintained by gravity, a constant force, until armature 4 under control of the operating means 6 acts through the lost motion connection to effect an instantaneous break.

In Figures 12 and 13 there are two contactor with the armature 4 and they are equalized in their relative motion by an equalizer 3|. The equalizer 3| is also adapted to act as an abutment limiting the relative motion of the contactor armatures 5 with respect to the armature 4. The contactor armatures 5 are electrically connected in series.

In Figures 14 and4 15 the armature 4 is provided wlth a contact member 32 adapted to contact the contact member 2. 'I'he contact member 32 carried by the armature 4 makes contact with the contact member 2 after the contact member 3 makes contact and breaks contact before the contact member 3. This eil'ects an auxiliary contact to carry additional electrical loads. 'I'he armature 4 carries a stop 33 limiting the relative movement of the contactor 5 in one direction while the contactor 5 which is pivoted within an opening 34 in the armature 4 carries a stop 35 limiting the relative motion between them in the other direction. The contact member 2 is adjustably.

held in place relative to the magnet I by a spring 35 and a screw 36. The operating means 5 is indicated as being a spiral wound bimetal element to which the armature 4 is positively connected.

In Figures 16 and 17 the contactor armature 5 is hinged as at 31 to swing or sway in an opening 33 in the armature 4. Its motion relative to the armature 4 is limitedby a top outer abutment 3l and a lower inner abutment 40 carried by the armature 4. The operating means 6 is indicated as being a sylphon bellows counter-balanced by a spring 4 I. This arrangement oi' separate armature iulcrums permits a slight wiping action between contact members 2 and 3 as they make and break contact.

In Figure 18 there are separate magnets I for each of the armatures; that is the contact armature 5 is provided with a magnet and a contact point 2 is positioned in the ux of this magnet and in relation to the contact l carried by the armature 5, while a separate magnet is provided for the armature 4 which armature is motivated by operating means 6. There is a suitable lost motion connection between the armatures 4 and 5 so that as armature 4 is moved away from its magnet by the operating means 5 it will notengage armature 5 until it has advanced a sufllcient distance from its magnet. 'At the proper distance the lines of force restraining amature 4 are so weakened that its movement is rapid enough to deliver a slight blow to armature 5 upon the taking up of slack in the lost motion connection. Thus amature 5 is instantly forced away from its magnet completely breaking the contact between contacts 2 and 3.

It is to be understood that the various contact members are suitably connected by proper electrical connections to binding posts indicated generally throughout the drawings by numeral d2.

Various types of operating means have been shown and described in the drawings and specification, but it is to be understoodthat each and all of the modifications can be used with sensitive mechanical operating means as Well as all existing types of relative pressure, relative temperature or hydroscopic actuating means, the latter including the human hair type of element and the skin or parchment membrane type of element.

The details of construction and arrangement of parts shown and described may be variously changed and modied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention except as pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a magnet, an armature operatively associated with the magnet, cooperable contacts, one of which also constitutes a second armature in operativejrelation to said magnet, and means movably inter-relating the first-named armature andthe combined contact and armature whereby the cooperable contacts are engaged and disengaged under the conjoint influence of the two armatures.

2. A device of the character described comprising a magnet, an armature cooperatively related to the magnet, cooper-able contacts', one-of.

said contacts being floatably mounted on the armature and itself constituting a second armature and being cooperatively related to Said magnet.

3. In a switch device, the combination of a magnet, a contact member, a plurality of armalures, at least one of which is adapted to contact said contact member, operating means f or varying the distance between said magnetY and another of said armatures and means whereby contact between said rst-named armature and said i contact member is broken only after a predeterm'ned distance is established between said magnet and said second-named armature.

4. In a switch device, the combination of a magnet, relatively movable contact members, a plurality of armatures movable toward and from said magnet, at least one of said armatures being adapted to cause said contact members to make and break contact, operating means for varying the distance between said magnet and another of said armatures, and means whereby said first-mentioned armature causes said contact members to break contact only after a predetermined distance is established between said magnet and said second-mentioned armature.

5. In a switch controlled by operating means sensitive to relative changes in the working condition to which subjected, the combination of a magnet, a contact member located near said magnet, an armature movable toward and from said magnet under the combined influence of said magnet and the operating means, and a contacmagnet in substantial alinement with said contact member and under control of said rstmentioned armature and said magnet, said contactor armature establishing contact with said contact member at one point of its movement.

6. In a switch controlled by operating means sensitive to relative changes in the working conditions to which subjected, the combination o a magnet, a contact member located near said magnet, an armature movable toward and from said magnet under the combined inuence of said magnet and the operating means, and a movable contactor armature positioned to move to and from said first-named contact member, there being a lost motion connection between said first-mentioned armature and said movable contactor armature.

7. In an electric switch mechanism, the combination of a magnet eld of varied intensity, an armature, a member responsive to relative changes in the working conditions to which subjected and adapted to move said armature toward and from the center of intensity of said field, a movable contactor armature controlled by said rst-mentioned armature for only a portion of the extent of the movement of said firstmentioned armature away from the center of intensity of said eld, and a contact member so located as to strike said contactor armature when said rst-mentioned armature approaches the center of intensity of said field.

8. In an electric switch device, the combination of a magnetic eld of varied intensity, a contact member positioned substantially in the center of intensity of said field, an armature within said cld movable toward and from the center of intensity of said eld, operating means for controlling the movement of said armature and responsive to variations in the working conditions to which subjected, and a movable contactor armature having a lost motion connection with said first-mentioned armature and adapted to contact said contact member.

9. In an electric switch device, the combination of a magnet, a contact member positioned adjacent the poles of said magnet, an armature pivoted to move toward and from the poles of said magnet, operating means exerting a variable pressure on said armature, and a contactor armature oatably related to said first-mentioned armature 'for relative movement 'thereto and adapted to contact said contact member.

10. In an electric switch device, the combination of a magnet, a contact member positioned adjacent the poles of said magnet, an armature pivoted to move toward and fro-m the poles of said magnet, operating means exerting a variable pressure on said armature, said armature having an Aopening in the face thereof and a contactor armature mounted for swaying movement in said opening and adapted to contact said contact member, there being abutments carried by said rst-mentioned armature confining the swaylng movement of said contactor armature.

1l. In an electric switch mechanism, the combination of a magnet field of varied intensity, a pair of spaced contact-members positioned substantially in the center of intensity of said ileld, an armature movable toward and from the center of intensity of said eld, a contacter armatur associated with said first-mentioned armature and having limited movement relative thereto said contacter armature having contact points adapted to contact said contact members and being self-alining therewith,- exerting a variable tioned armature.

12. In an electric switch mechanism, the combination of a magnetic field of varied intensity, a pair of spaced contact members positioned substantially in the center of intensity of said Held, an armature movable toward and from the center of intensity of said field, said armature having an opening in the face thereof, a contactor armature exibly suspended in said opening for to and fro movement relative to said rst-mentioned armature and being adapted to contact said spaced contact members, means limiting said relative to and fro movement and operating means exerting a variable pressure on said firstmentioned armature. Y

13. In an electric switch mechanism, the combination of a magnet, a contact member adjustably related to said magnet, said contact member having spaced contact points, an armature movable toward and from said magnet `and operating means pressure on said rst-men'- and having a contact point adapted to contact one oi said spaced contact points, a contactor armature carried by said ilrst-mentioned armature and having a limited independent movement relative thereto, said contactor armature having a contact p oint adapted to contact another of said spaced contact points, and operating means exerting a variable pressure on said flrstmentioned amature.

14. In a switch mechanism, the combination of a magnet, spaced contact members positioned adjacent said magnet, an armature movable toward and from said magnet, a pair of contactor armatures movable back and forth relative to the movement of said first-mentioned armature, each of said contactor armatures adapted to contact one of said spaced contact members, means carried by said first-mentioned armature to equalize and limit relative movement between all of said armatures, and operating means exerting a variable'pressure on said first-mentioned armature.

15. In a switch mechanism, the combination of a movable armature, a magnetic eld of varied intensity located Within the line of travel of the armature and urging said armature toward the center oi. intensity of said field, operating means exerting a variable force on said armature urging said armature away from the center of intensity of said ield, a contact member located near the center of intensity of said eld and a. movable contactor armature adapted to contact said .contact member, said movable armature having means to positively strike against and move said contactor armature when said movable armature is moving away from the center of intensity of said eld, said movable contactor armature being urged in contact with said contact member by the attraction of said magnetic ileld.

THEODORE A. WETZEL. 

